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A Tribute to Ernest Borgnine Although none of his characters was named to the AFI list of Top 50 Villains, there was a period of time in the 1950s when Ernest Borgnine played one standout s.o.b. after another, beginning with "Fatso" Judson, a man with no redeeming qualities, in From Here to Eternity (1953), and adding Bart the gunfighter in Johnny Guitar (1954), the tyrant's right-hand man in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), and the cruel Viking leader in The Vikings (1958). But Ernie's friends will tell you he's nothing like those characters, and as we celebrate the living legend's latest birthday, we want to focus on some of his more multi-faceted roles, beginning with his breakthrough, Oscar-winning appearance in Marty (1955). Ernie's birth name was Ermes Effron Borgnine, and he was born in Hamden, Connecticut on January 24, 1917, the only son of Italian immigrants. He graduated from high school and joined the Navy, serving for ten years and leaving in 1945 as a Gunner's Mate 1st Class (he was later named an honorary Chief Petty Officer). His mother convinced him to try his hand at acting, so he joined Hartford's Randall School of Drama in Hartford, then spent four years at the Barter Theatre in Virginia, and another two years on Broadway before moving to Hollywood in 1951. Two years later he got his big break in From Here to Eternity, which brings us back to Marty. The Academy Award (he beat out Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra, James Dean and James Cagney!) didn't put an end to the villain roles, but it broadened his choice of roles considerably, eventually leading to perhaps his best-known portrayal, the title role in the TV comedy McHale's Navy from 1962 to 1966. He was also known for his ill-fated, one-month marriage to Ethel Merman. During his career, which continues today, he has appeared in over 100 feature films and made-for-TV movies, starred in three television series, appeared in numerous others as a guest star, and contributed voiceovers to several animated films. He and his wife Tova Traesnaes live in Beverly Hills. Borgnine is a strong supporter of charities and often appears at benefits. We salute him on his 91st birthday in 2008. Part I: Introduction Part II: Ernest Borgnine Tributes and Other Pages Part III: Movie Reviews & Where to Find His Movies Part IV: Photos, Art, and Posters

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June Allyson Jean Arthur Fred Astaire Lauren Bacall Lucille Ball Anne Bancroft Brigitte Bardot Ingrid Bergman Milton Berle Humphrey Bogart Ernest Borgnine Marlon Brando Lloyd Bridges James Cagney Eddie Cantor Frank Capra Charlie Chaplin John Carradine James Coburn Claudette Colbert Gary Cooper Jackie Cooper Joan Crawford Tony Curtis Bette Davis Doris Day Olivia de Havilland James Dean Marlene Dietrich Walt Disney Kirk Douglas Melvyn Douglas Clint Eastwood Errol Flynn Henry Fonda Glenn Ford Clark Gable Greta Garbo Ava Gardner Judy Garland Cary Grant Alec Guinness Jean Harlow Richard Harris Rita Hayworth Helen Hayes Audrey Hepburn Katharine Hepburn Charlton Heston Alfred Hitchcock William Holden Bob Hope John Huston Van Johnson Buster Keaton Gene Kelly Grace Kelly Deborah Kerr Stanley Kubrick Burt Lancaster Janet Leigh Vivien Leigh Jack Lemmon Sophia Loren Ida Lupino Marx Brothers Shirley MacLaine Walter Matthau Roddy McDowall Robert Mitchum Marilyn Monroe Paul Newman Jack Nicholson Kim Novak Margaret O'Brien Donald O'Connor Maureen O'Hara Laurence Olivier Maureen O'Sullivan Gregory Peck Sidney Poitier Cole Porter William Powell Tyrone Power Elvis Presley Vincent Price Anthony Quinn Ronald Reagan Christopher Reeve Debbie Reynolds Jason Robards Edward G. Robinson Richard Rodgers Ginger Rogers Roy Rogers Mickey Rooney George C. Scott Peter Sellers Jean Simmons Frank Sinatra Barbara Stanwyck Rod Steiger Jimmy Stewart Gloria Swanson Elizabeth Taylor Shirley Temple Spencer Tracy Rudy Vallee John Wayne Orson Welles Billy Wilder Shelley Winters Natalie Wood Jane Wyman Loretta Young Robert Young

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